Thursday, April 9, 2009

Hindi Actor

Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan

Born

March 14, 1965 (1965-03-14) (age 43) Mumbai, Maharashtra , India

Occupation

Actor, Film Producer & Director, Writer

Years active

1973 - 1974, 1984, 1988 - 2001, 2005 - present

Spouse(s)

Kiran Rao (2005 - present) Reena Dutta (1987 - 2002)

Aamir Khan (pronounced [ɑːmɪr xɑːn]; Devanāgarī: आमिर ख़ान, (born Aamir Hussain Khan on March 14, 1965)) is an Indian actor,film director and film producer. Khan was part of several commercially successful movies and has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema, delivering a number of highly acclaimed performances.

Appearing as a child actor in his uncle Nasir Hussain's film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Khan began his professional career eleven years later, with the film, Holi (1984). He received his first commercial success with his cousin Mansoor Khan's film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and won a Filmfare Best Male Debut Award for his performance in the film. After eight previous nominations during the 1980s and 1990s, Khan received his first Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in Raja Hindustani (1996), his biggest commercial success so far.

He later earned his second Best Actor award at the Filmfare ceremony for his performance in the 2001 Academy Award nominated Lagaan. After a four year break from acting, Khan made his comeback with Ketan Mehta's The Rising (2005). In 2007, he made his directorial debut with Taare Zameen Par, for which he received a Filmfare Best Director Award. Khan is the founder-owner of Aamir Khan Productions.

Early life

Aamir Khan was born in Bandra's Holy Family Hospital, Mumbai, India in a Muslim family that has been actively involved in the Indian motion picture industry for several decades. His father, Tahir Hussain, is a film producer while his deceased uncle, Nasir Hussain, was a film producer as well as a director.

Being a descendant of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, his roots can be traced to the city of Herat, Afghanistan. He is also a descendant of former President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain and a second cousin to former Chairperson of Rajya Sabha, Dr Najma Heptullah. [4]

Film career

Khan began his film career as a child actor in a home production, produced and directed by Nasir Hussain, titled Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973) and Madhosh (1974). Eleven years later, he made his adult acting debut in a role that went quite unnoticed in Ketan Mehta's Holi (1984).

Khan's first notable leading role came in 1988 in the film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak which was directed by his cousin and Nasir Hussain's son Mansoor Khan. This film was a breakthrough commercial success, effectively launching Khan's career as a leading actor. Having the typical 'chocolate hero' looks, he was publicised as a teen idol. After that, he went on to appear in several other films in the late '80s and early '90s: Dil (1990), which became the highest grossing film of the year, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993) (for which he also wrote the screenplay), and Rangeela (1995). Most of these films were successful critically and commercially. Other successes include Andaz Apna Apna, co-starring Salman Khan. At the time of its release the movie was reviewed unfavorably by critics, but over the years has gained a cult status.

Khan continued to act in just one or two films a year, an unusual trait for a mainstream Hindi Cinema actor. His only release in 1996 was the Dharmesh Darshan directed commercial blockbuster Raja Hindustani in which he was paired opposite Karisma Kapoor. The film earned him his first Filmfare Best Actor Award, after eight previous nominations, and went on to become the biggest hit of the year, as well as the third highest grossing Indian film of the 1990s. Khan's career had seemed to hit a plateau at this point of time, and most of the films to follow for the next few years were only partially successful. In 1997, he co-starred with Ajay Devgan and was paired opposite Juhi Chawla in the film Ishq, which performed well at the box office. In 1998, Khan appeared in the moderately successful Ghulam, for which he also did playback singing. John Mathew Matthan's Sarfarosh (1999) was Khan's first release in 1999 which was also moderately successful gaining an above average box office verdict, although the film was highly appreciated amongst the critics and Khan's role as a dedicated, honest and an uncorrupt cop engaged in fighting border terrorism, was well received, as did his role in Deepa Mehta's art house film Earth. His first release for the new millennium, Mela, in which he acted alongside his real-life brother Faisal Khan, was both a box-office and critical bomb.

Khan founded his own production company, Aamir Khan Productions, to help finance his long time friend Ashutosh Gowariker's dream of making the film Lagaan. The movie was released in 2001, starring Khan as the lead actor. The film was a major critical and commercial success, and was selected as India's official entry to the 74th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. It was eventually chosen and nominated in that category along with four other foreign films, but lost to No Man's Land. Additionally, the film gathered critical acclaim at several international film festivals, apart from winning numerous Bollywood awards, including National Film Awards. Khan himself won his second Filmfare Best Actor Award and commented on loss of Lagaan at the Oscars, saying, "Certainly we were disappointed. But the thing that really kept us in our spirits was that the entire country was behind us".

The success of Lagaan was followed by Dil Chahta Hai later that year, in which Khan co-starred with Akshaye Khanna and Saif Ali Khan, with Preity Zinta playing his love interest. The film was written and directed by the then newcomer Farhan Akhtar. According to critics, the film broke new grounds by showing Indian urban youth as they really are today. The characters depicted were modern, suave and cosmopolitan. The film did moderately well and was a success mostly in urban cities.

Khan then took a four year break citing personal problems, and returned in 2005 with Ketan Mehta's Mangal Pandey: The Rising playing the title role of a real-life sepoy and a martyr who helped spark the Indian Rebellion of 1857 or the 'First War of Indian Independence'.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's award-winning, Rang De Basanti, was Khan's first release in 2006. His role was critically acclaimed, earning him a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance and various nominations for Best Actor. The film went on to become one of the highest grossing films of the year, and was selected as India's official entry to the Oscars. Although the film was not shortlisted as a nominee, it received a nomination for Best Foreign Film at the BAFTA Awards in England. Khan's work in his next movie, Fanaa (2006) was also appreciated, and the film went on to become one of the highest grossing Indian films of 2006.

His 2007 film, Taare Zameen Par (about a teacher who befriends and helps a dyslexic child), which Khan produced and also starred in, marked his directorial debut. The film, which was the second offering from Aamir Khan Productions, opened to excellent responses from critics and audiences alike. His work won him two awards at the Filmfare, the Best Movie and the Best Director awards, and established his status as a competent director and a story-teller. The film was also selected as India's official entry to the 2009 Oscars.

In 2008, Khan launched his nephew Imran Khan's debut in the film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. The film was a major critical and commercial success.

Personal life

During the years of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Khan married Reena Dutta. His parents did not approve of their marriage because of her not being a Muslim. As a result, Khan's marriage stayed a secret both from his parents and the media for a while. Dutta made a brief appearance in the popular song sequence Papa Kehte Hain in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. The story of Khan's marriage garnered major public attention when it was first revealed. Even so, Reena Dutta maintained a low profile and continued her job at a travel agency. They had two children, a son named Junaid and a daughter, Ira, and led a quiet family life away from the public eye. Reena was involved, briefly, in Khan's career when she worked as a producer for Lagaan. In December 2002, Aamir filed for divorce, ending the 15-year marriage, with Reena taking the custody of both their children.

On December 28, 2005, Aamir married Kiran Rao who had been an assistant director to Ashutosh Gowariker during the filming of Lagaan.

Recently, his brother Faisal caused a media scandal by accusing Khan of mistreating him and forcing him to take medication. Faisal has been said to be mentally unstable. On October 31, 2007, the Bombay high court granted temporary custody of Faisal to their father, Tahir Hussain. Khan's family came out in a public statement, supporting him on all counts in this matter. The statement was also signed by his former wife, Reena Dutta.

Although he has received numerous Indian awards, Khan rarely attends Indian award functions, and says that he does not believe in the authenticity of the selection and winning process. He made an exception when he attended the Oscars for the nomination of Lagaan. In 2007, Khan was invited to have a wax imitation of himself put on display at Madame Tussauds in London. However, Khan politely declined stating that, "It's not important to me... people will see my films if they want to. Also, I cannot deal with so many things, I have bandwidth only for that much."

Awards and nominations

Filmography

Actor

Year

Film

Role

Other notes

1973

Yaadon Ki Baaraat

Young Ratan

1974

Madhosh

Child artist

1984

Holi

Madan Sharma

1988

Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak

Raj

Winner, Filmfare Best Male Debut Award Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

1989

Raakh

Aamir Hussein

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

Love Love Love

Amit

1990

Awwal Number

Sunny

Tum Mere Ho

Shiva

Dil

Raja

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin

Ajay Sharma

Jawani Zindabad

Shashi

1991

Afsana Pyaar Ka

Raj

Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin

Raghu Jetley

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

Isi Ka Naam Zindagi

Chotu

Daulat Ki Jung

Rajesh Chaudhry

1992

Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar

Sanjaylal Sharma

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

1993

Parampara

Ranbir Prithvi Singh

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke

Rahul Malhotra

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

1994

Andaz Apna Apna

Amar

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

1995

Baazi

Inspector Amar Damjee

Aatank Hi Aatank

Rohan

Rangeela

Munna

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

Akele Hum Akele Tum

Rohit

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

1996

Raja Hindustani

Raja Hindustani

Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award

1997

Ishq

Raja

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

1998

Ghulam

Siddharth Marathe

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award Nominated, Filmfare Best Male Playback Award

1999

Sarfarosh

Ajay Singh Rathod

Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award

Mann

Dev Karan Singh

Earth (1947)

Dil Navaz

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

2000

Mela

Kishan Pyare

2001

Lagaan

Bhuvan

Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award

Dil Chahta Hai

Akash Malhotra

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

2005

Mangal Pandey: The Rising

Mangal Pandey

Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

2006

Rang De Basanti

Daljit Singh (DJ)

Winner, Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

Fanaa

Rehan Khan

2007

Taare Zameen Par

Ram Shankar Nikumbh

Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award India's official entry to the Oscars

2008

Ghajini

Sanjay Ramaswamy

Filming

2009

Three Idiots

Filming

Playback singing

Year

Film

Song

1998

Ghulam

Aati Kya Khandala

2000

Mela

Dekho 2000 Zamana Aa Gaya

2005

The Rising

Holi Re

2006

Rang De Basanti

Lalkaar

Fanaa

Chanda Chamke & Mere Haath Mein

2007

Taare Zameen Par

Bum Bum Bole

Producer

Year

Film

Director

2001

Lagaan

Ashutosh Gowariker Winner, Filmfare Best Movie Award

2007

Taare Zameen Par

Aamir Khan Winner, Filmfare Best Movie Award

2008

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

Abbas Tyrewala

2008

Ghajini

A. R. Murugadoss

Writer/Director

Year

Film

Notes

1988

Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak

Story writer

1993

Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke

Screenwriter

2007

Taare Zameen Par

Director Winner, Filmfare Best Director Award

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

List of top Bollywood films

a list of popular Bollywood films in reverse chronological order.

When box office data is available, this list gives the top-grossing films of the year, or decade. The capsule reviews are written in the usual brief television-film-schedule style. More complete reviews can be found by clicking on links to films that have their own pages.

2000 onwards

2008

Top-grossing films of 2008

Critically Acclaimed films of 2008

2007

Top-grossing films of 2007

Critically acclaimed films of 2007

2006

Top-grossing films of 2006

Critically acclaimed films of 2006

2005

Top-grossing films of 2005

Critically acclaimed films of 2005

2004

Top-grossing films of 2004

Critically-acclaimed films of 2004

  • Swades: A successful NRI scientist returns to an Indian village to help his old nanny and in the process rediscovers his roots. Starring Shahrukh Khan and Gayatri Joshi.

2003

Top-grossing films of 2003

Critically acclaimed films of 2003

2002

Top-grossing films of 2002

Critically acclaimed films of 2002

2001

Top-grossing films of 2001

  • Lagaan: Officers of the British Raj and Indian villagers fight each other at cricket. The Film was an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Film.

Critically acclaimed films of 2001

2000

Top-grossing films of 2000

  • Badal: The movie is set in 1984 when riots were engulfing parts of Punjab and Delhi. Stars Bobby Deol and Rani Mukerji in the lead roles.
  • Kya Kehna: A teenage pregnant girl (Preity Zinta} tries to face and overcome the wrong social values, for which she lost her happiness.

Critically-acclaimed films of 2000

  • Astitva: A woman's husband and son reject her after learning she had an extramarital affair. Stars Tabu and Mohnish Behl.

1990s

Top-grossing films

  • Krantiveer (1994): Pratap (Nana Patekar), an ordinary man, finds himself as Krantiveer, the admiration object of millions.
  • Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994): Enormously popular family romance. Prem (Salman Khan) falls in love with Nisha (Madhuri Dixit) when Prem's brother marries Nisha's sister. Lavish wedding festivities, with much singing and dancing. Regarded as one of the most successful Bollywood movies ever.
  • Aankhen (1993): Govinda makes a double role in comedy of errors, which is his biggest hit.

Critically-acclaimed films

  • Hyderabad Blues (1998): Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. Set amongst the middle classes in Hyderabad, the film highlights the dilemma of a man who returns to India from the US in search of his roots.
  • Bombay (1995) : Star cast Manisha Koirala,Arvind Swamy A south Indian Hindu man falls in love with a Muslim woman--taboo in the small village from which they hail. Directed by Maniratnam, dubbed from Tamil.
  • Roja (1992): A man is kidnapped by terrorists; his wife refuses to stop fighting for his return. Dubbed from Tamil original critically-acclaimed.

1980s

  • Salaam Bombay (1988): Raw tale of life in the slums and brothels of Mumbai. Directed by indie film-maker Mira Nair.
  • Naam (1986): Story of 2 brothers, one goes to Dubai for a job but gets into trouble.
  • Nikaah (1982): Stars Salma Agha, who after divorce from her husband falls for another man. Life gets complicated when the first husband wants her back.
  • Prem Rog (1982): Rishi Kapoor who loves Padmini Kolhapure cannot marry her due to her caste and social status and she gets married to a richer man. She soon becomes a widow and then the story of a clash between old and new social values is well brought out.

1970s

  • Don (1978): Amitabh Bachchan plays a double role in this movie. He plays the role of a simple man put into the role of a crime boss. Also stars Zeenat Aman and Pran.
  • Julie (1975): South Indian producer Nagi Reddy had a surprise hit in this Hindi film. Stars Lakshmi. The music was very popular.
  • Jai Santoshi Maa (1975): A good woman is abandoned by her husband and mistreated by his malicious sisters-in-law, but her devotion to the Hindu goddess Santoshi Maa solves all. This religious B-movie was an unexpected success and elevated a regional deity (Santoshi Maa) to wider fame.
  • Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973): Three brothers take revenge on the criminal who killed their parents. Stars Dharmendra and Zeenat Aman. Notable for R.D. Burman's energetic score and especially the song Chura liya hai.
  • Mera Naam Joker (1970): A Raj Kapoor classic. Semi autobiographical-tells the story of a romantic artist (a circus clown) and all the women he falls in love with.

1960s

  • Upkar (1967): Two brothers in a poor village are devoted to each other; Manoj Kumar gives up his ambitions so that his brother (Prem Chopra) can stay in school.
  • Mughal-e-Azam (1960): The son of the Moghul Emperor defies him for love of a beautiful dancing-girl (Madhubala). A lavish production for its time, featuring a score by Naushad and poetic Urdu dialogue. The film was recently colorized and re-issued.

1950s

  • Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957): A former jailer (V. Shantaram) rehabilitates hardened prisoners by welcoming them onto his family farm, where they learn to work and cooperate.
  • Mother India (1957): Heroic peasant woman (Nargis) does her duty towards her husband and sons despite heart-breaking obstacles. This movie was nominated in the "Best Foreign Film" category of the Oscars.
  • Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955) One of India's first colour films. A lovely courtesan studies dancing under a strict guru, and falls in love in defiance of his orders to think only of dance. Many lavish dance sequences.
  • Aar Paar (1954): A romance in which two women fall in love with a taxi-driver (Guru Dutt), who is keen to become rich. The film is well known for its songs.
  • Awaara (1951): A young man (Raj Kapoor, who directed and starred) is rejected by his father, a judge, and turns to crime. He is redeemed, in the end, by his love for a young lawyer (Nargis). The film, especially the title song Awaara Hoon, was famously popular in China, the Soviet Union, Turkey, and much of the Mideast and Africa.

1940s

  • Kismet (1943): Directed by Gyan Mukherjee. Stars Ashok Kumar as a pickpocket trying to make it big.
  • Khazanchi (1941): Singer Shamshad Begum makes her singing debut in this film with the songs Sawan Ke Nazare Hai and Ek Kali Nazon Ki Pali.

1930s

  • Dhoop Chhaon (1935): Starring K. L. Saigal and K. C. Dey, this movie introduced playback singing in the Indian film industry.
  • Toofan Mail (1934): Considered to have laid down the basis of filmi music for years to come. Had a classic title track, considered widely as a timeless hit.
  • Alam Ara (1931): First talkie movie in India.